Interests:poetry, collecting mad hatter quotes, finding the perfect gift, reading, talking about books, people with culturally mixed backgrounds, taiwanese dramas, taking pictures for other people, searching for God knows what
Ok, so who of you has read Dune by Frank Herbert? It's a great book about a desert planet, a duke's son, mysterious tribal people, religious prophecies, a corrupted empire, sandworms, and lots of intrigue. It's about how a boy becomes a leader and the religion that he creates and which also creates him.
I picked up it one summer day in middle school or high school because there was nothing to read in the house. These paperbacks that looked like they'd been published in the 70s had been lying shabby and dusty on the basement shelf for a while. Browning at the edges, they looked boring and grown-up so I ignored them for the most part but I was desperate that day. I must have read all my library books already. Reading it, I couldn't stop. I was blown away by the treasure I had found.
Anyways, Dune is a great book.
So for those of you who have read Dune, you'll understand what the Voice is. I laugh when I say this, but sometimes, when I'm dealing with difficult people, I feel like I'm using the Voice. Or at least, unconsciously developing the Voice. It's really funny. I find myself mentally adjusting my voice so that it's lighter or lilts more or so I sound more innocent while at the same time, slowing down my words to calm them down, and it's all about finding that right pitch and timbre so that you are innocuous or playful but firm at the same time. You know what I'm talking about? It makes me think about that scene in Dune where the Lady Jessica is trying to soothe the enemy soldier by talking to him, and she puts relaxants into the timbre of her voice. The pitch of her voice says, "Relax, we are harmless, we are ineffective". She aims to look defenseless so that she and her son Paul can take them by surprise and escape.
With agitated people, that's exactly what I find myself doing. And with people who are learning and learning very slowly. Not that I'm trying to blindside them as soon as they are calm. Rather, bring them down from the top of their anger or irritation so we can talk reasonably. I match their various agitations with a different tone of voice, where I take them seriously but try to keep the agitation at bay. Disarm them with the sound of my voice. Their conscious minds are listening to the words I'm saying while they are also responding to the way I'm saying it. It's a subtle thing, or should be.
With slow learners, I add strength to my voice and assurance, especially when I'm complimenting them or saying something encouraging. I'm not going to say that I'm altogether successful because like I said, I'm still developing this skill. But it's really gratifying when, at the end of the training session, they ask me whether they can work with me next time.
It's harder with more than one person though. I can't juggle the differing levels of emotion from several people, even two.
And unfortunately, I don't do it with my mom. I guess, I don't want to try it because she's my mom, I don't feel like I should have to. She's my mom. The mature one. It's almost like a betrayal for me if I'm the one who has to be reasonable. And the thing is, my mom is not always mature, especially in response to my anger. I am totally no help when we get into arguments. =(
I guess we all do this kind of voice manipulation more or less to some extent, both on purpose and unconsciously. There must be some psychological term for it. But it's fun to liken my doing it to the Voice. I love the idea of it. Now I just need to figure out how to use the Voice as a command, not just a relaxant. Find that pitch of voice where I can bark out, "Do the Hokey pokey!" and you won't even register what I've said until you've turned yourself around. That's what it's all about! Hehe.
I'm not optimistic that I would have recognized beauty. Reading that article makes me want to cultivate that side of me though. Lord, teach me to recognize beauty and revel in it.
This is the original Where the Hell is Matt video. He made this on his own and then Stride caught wind of it and sponsored him for a second dancing video!
Today, Jane, Ruby, and I made a movie. You'll never see it because it's too embarrassing. But man, we had so much fun making it! Here's a synopsis: torn up paper, mmm paintbrush, maniacal laughter, touchy subject, flashbacks, a running cat, and a sandwich.
In other news, work is going well. I'll be working at Towson for a couple of days which is kinda exciting because I always like meeting the people who work at other stores. I'm also excited because I'll be able to spend some time with Kara! I miss some of my girls who have moved to other stores. I was finally introduced to Battlestar Galactica through Jared, I had a blast outlet shopping with Stacia, and I found a cute dress for Mike and Sophia's wedding! It's a little tight though but I have time to lose some weight before June. =)
So that's the straightforward, nonartistic summary of what's going on with me. =)
